MIRZA ZUL-QARNAIN, A CHRISTIAN GRANDEE. 123 



that hee would never be other : whereupon the King practised by faire speeches and 

 large promises, to withdraw him to the folly of Mahomet, offering him Pensions, 

 meanes, and command of Horse, telling him hee had now but foure Rupias a Moneth 

 Wages, which was a poore Reward for quitting his prsepuced faith : but if hee would 

 recant, hee would heape upon him many Dignities : the Fellow answering, it was not 

 for so small Wages hee became Christian, for hee had limbes, and [493] could earne 

 so much of any Mahometan, but that hee was a Christian in his heart, and would not 

 alter it. This way not taking effect, the King turned to threatnings, and menacings 

 of Tortures and Whippings ; but the Proselyte manfully resolving to suffer anything, 

 answered, hee was readie to endure the Kings pleasure. Upon this resolution, when 

 all men expected present and severe castigation, the King changed his tune, highly 

 commending his constancie and honestie, bidding him goe and returne to his Master, 

 and to serve him faithfully and truely, giving him a Rupia a day Pension for 

 his Integritie. About two Monethes after, the King having been a hunting of wild 

 Hogges, a beast odious to all Moores, and accustomed to distribute that sort of 

 Venision among Christians and Razbootes, sent for this Armenian, Master of this 

 converted catechumen or Mahometan, to come and fetch part of his Quarrie. The 

 Armenian not beeing at home, this his principall Servant came to know the Kings 

 pleasure, who commanded him to take up a Hogge for his Master, which no Moore 

 will touch ; which hee did, and being gone out of the Court-gate, was so hooted at by 

 the Mahometans, that hee threw downe his Present in a Ditch, and went home, 

 concealing from his Master what had passed. About foure dayes after the Armenian 

 coming to his watch, the King demanded of him whether the Hogge he sent 

 him were good meat or no; who replyed, hee neyther heard of, nor see any Hogge : 

 whereat the King remembering to whom this Hogge was delivered, caused the fellow 

 to be sent for, and examining the matter, had it confessed how he threw away 

 the Hogge, and never carryed it home: the King pressing to know the reason, 

 the poore fellow answered how he was mocked for touching it, and it being a 

 thing odious to the Moores, for shame he threw it away: at which he replyed, 

 By your law there is no difference of meats, and are you ashamed of your lawes ? or to 

 flatter the Mahumetans, doe you in outward things forsake it? Now I see thou 

 art neither good Christian, nor good Mahumetan, but a dissembling knave with 

 [494] both. While I found thee sincere, I gave thee a pension, which now I take from 

 thee, and for thy dissimulation doe command thee to have a hundred stripes, which 

 were presently given him in stead of his money, and bade all men by his example 

 take heed, that seeing hee gave libertie to all Religions, that which they choose and 

 prof esse, they may sticke unto." 



This story appears to be the same as that related by Father Jerome Xavier, S.J., 

 in a letter from Agra, September 6, 1604 : " To show favour to some Portuguese who 

 had arrived, the Prince [Salim, later King Jahangir] asked them if they would like 

 some pork to eat, and they said they would. The Prince ordered a pig to be fetched, 

 and , when it was brought , he gave it to a young Christian and bade him take it to his 

 master, but the young man was ashamed and let the pig escape. At supper, the 



